• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.59-64
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• 2009

Atopic dermatitis, caused by immune hyper-responsiveness, is wide spread in humans as well as in the dogs, especially in industrialized condition. Pet dogs are generally exposed to the same environment as their owners, and a significant portion of these animals are also known to suffer from this allergic disease. However, diagnosis and treatment methods of atopic dermatitis in animals have not been well established. We explored the possibility of using recently developed PG102 for the treatment of atopic dermatitis in the canine population. PG102 is a water soluble extract prepared from Actinidia arguta, and has been shown to produce significant therapeutic effect in variable allergy animal models. After oral administration of PG102 at a dose of 12.5 mg/kg daily for 4 weeks, severity of disease was greatly improved. IgE is one of representative members used to diagnose allergic diseases in humans. However, it is not well established whether there is any correlation between the serum level of IgE and atopic dermatitis. Our data indicated that dogs diagnosed to have atopic dermatitis contained higher level of serum IgE than the normal dogs and that treatment of dogs with PG102 significantly lowered the serum level of IgE. Taken together, this study demonstrated that PG102 treatment yielded significant amelioration of canine atopic dermatitis and down-regulation of serum IgE and that the serum level of IgE can be used as a convenient member for diagnosis of atopic dermatitis in dogs.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.26-30
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• 2005

The purpose of this study is to investigate the prevalent allergens causing canine atopic dermatitis in Daejeon area. Twenty two dogs were diagnosed with atopic dermatitis by an using intradermal skin test (IDST). Allergens used for the IDST included 33 allergen extracts from nine allergen groups: house dust mites (HDM), house dust, moulds, trees, weeds, grasses, insects/fleas, epithelia and others. The 22 purebred dogs with atopic dermatitis enrolled in this study included Shi-tzus (10/22, 45.5%), Yorkshire terriers (5/22, 22.7%), Miniature pinschers (4/22, 18.2%), Pugs (2/ 22, 9.1 %) and Cocker spaniels (1/22, 4.5%). The age of onset of atopic dermatitis ranged from 5 months to 5 years old (median: 1.79 years). The males (12/22, 54.5%) and females (10/22, 45.5%) were almost equal. The number of positive reactions to allergens recorded in each dog with atopic dermatitis was 3 (9/22, 40.9%), 2 (8/22, 36.4%), 1 (3/ 22, 13.6%) and 4 (2/22, 9.1 %), respectively. The most common positive allergen reaction was HDM (52.6%). The other positive allergen reactions recorded were from house dust (17.5%), insects/fleas (15.8%), trees (5.3%), moulds (3.5%), kapok (3.5%), silk (3.5%), epithelia (1.8%), weeds (0%) and grasses (0%), respectively. Positive reactions recorded to Dermatophagoides farinae and D. pteronyssinus were in 53.3% and 46.7%, respectively. The IDST results demonstrate that the most common causative allergens in canine atopic dermatitis in Daejeon area were HDM.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.490-494
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• 2014

Dermatophagoides farinae plays important role in the pathogenesis of canine atopic dermatitis as environmental allergens. Also, many studies revealed that D. farinae was the main causative allergen for Korean dogs with atopic dermatitis. To identify major allergens of D. farinae in Korean atopic dogs allergic to D. farinae by immunoblot using commercial allergenic extracts, 26 dogs from two groups were enrolled in the study. Control group consists of 10 dogs with no clinical signs of disease and atopic group consists of 16 dogs diagnosed as atopic dermatitis. Sera from Korean dogs with atopic dermatitis showed six allergens of D. farinae extract by procedure of immunoblot. The molecular weights of identifying protein bands were 177, 109, 75, 44, 27, 15 kDa. The major allergens showing reactivity with greater than 50% of atopic dogs were detected at approximately 44, 109 and 177 kDa. Subsequent investigations will be carried out to verify the identity of the allergens detected in this study.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.270-273
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• 2016

This study was undertaken to identify differences between atopic and non-atopic dogs in three rapid screening immunodot assays as well as the ability of the assays to predict the results of intradermal skin testing (IDST) or Favrot diagnostic criteria (FDC). Twenty-nine dogs diagnosed with canine atopic dermatitis (CAD) were selected as the atopic group. Twenty-five dogs without CAD were included as the non-atopic group. Three types of immunodot assays were conducted on all serum samples from both groups: Allercept E-screen 2nd generation (ES2G), Canine Allergic Tendency Reference Test (ALERT), and Asan Easy Test Canine IgE (AETC). IDST, which included 39 allergens, and immunodot assays were performed concurrently in 13 dogs from the atopic group and compared. While there were no significant differences in positivity between the two groups in the evaluation of ALERT (P = 0.435) and AETC (P = 0.313), positivity in ES2G testing was significantly higher in the non-atopic group than the atopic group (P = 0.038). The ES2G, ALERT, and AETC results showed fair (${\kappa}=0.235$), slight (${\kappa}=0.133$), and slight (${\kappa}=0.014$) accordance with IDST, respectively. The outcomes of ES2G, ALERT, and AETC indicated poor (${\kappa}=-0.211$), slight (${\kappa}=0.106$), and slight (${\kappa}=0.087$) agreement with FDC. In conclusion, rapid screening immunodot assays were not useful for the diagnosis of CAD. These assays may provide a supplementary method for predicting the results of IDST in atopic dogs.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.18-22
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• 2017

The aim of this study was to prove that the hypothesis of half dose (HD) allergen-specific immunotherapy (ASIT) in the treatment of canine atopic dermatitis (CAD) would result in a similar success rate compared to the standard dose (SD) ASIT. Clinical signs were evaluated using a third version of the Canine Atopic Dermatitis Extent and Severity Index (CADESI-03) prior to ASIT (day 0), at the end of induction (day 43), and at three month afterwards (day 90). Of the 18 atopic dogs, 12 dogs (SD group: 6; HD group: 6) had a good - excellent response to the house dust mites-specific immunotherapy. The efficacies of ASIT were 66.6% in both groups. The grades of reduction rate CADESI-03 were not different between two groups. Therefore, half dose protocol of house dust mites-specific immunotherapy is an effective and efficient method to treat CAD.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.19-26
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• 2024

Canine atopic dermatitis (CAD) is an inflammatory and pruritic skin disease with a genetic predisposition, characterized by allergic sensitivity. It is known for its distinctive clinical features, including a high recurrence rate and chronic progression. To manage CAD, medications such as steroids and immunosuppressants are commonly used, but consideration should be given to the potential resistance and side effects associated with long-term use. In order to reduce these risks, various adjunctive factors are currently under consideration. One of these adjunctive agents, probiotics have shown effectiveness in regulating atopic dermatitis by modulating immune responses, as demonstrated in several recent studies. In this study, a substance combining three probiotics-L. plantarum, L. reuteri, and Ped. Acidilactici-was used in patients diagnosed with CAD, and its clinical effects and safety were evaluated. The trial involved four groups: a group receiving conventional treatment for atopic dermatitis (A), a group prescribed low-dose probiotics (B), a group prescribed high-dose probiotics (C), and a group prescribed topical probiotics (D). For assessment, the Canine Atopic Dermatitis Extent and Severity Index (CADESI), Trans-Epidermal Water Loss (TEWL) test, gut microbiome, and serum IgE test were conducted. As a result, the CAD severity index (CADESI-4) significantly decreased in the probiotics groups (B & C). In the serum total IgE test, the groups consuming probiotics showed a significant difference, while the group using topical probiotics (D) did not exhibit a significant change. Also, the TEWL test showed improved scores in the probiotics groups (B & C). Therefore, L. plantarum, L. reuteri, and Ped. Acidilactici probiotic combination could be considered as an effective adjunctive treatment, especially for atopic patients with moderate to severe skin lesions.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.127-134
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• 2021

Canine atopic dermatitis (CAD) is a genetically predisposed inflammatory and pruritic skin disease presenting characteristic clinical features in dogs. Despite oclacitinib and lokivetmab being commonly used, no study has compared their efficacies in CAD. This study aimed to compare the efficacy, safety, and control of CAD-associated pruritus and skin lesions between oclacitinib and lokivetmab. It also investigated whether switching to lokivetmab from oclacitinib or prednisolone had any benefits. Twenty-five client-owned dogs, newly diagnosed with CAD, were allocated to the oclacitinib (n = 20) and lokivetmab (n = 5) groups and administered oclacitinib (0.4-0.6 mg/kg orally, twice daily for 14 days, then once daily) and lokivetmab (2 mg/kg subcutaneously, every month) for 8 weeks, respectively. The switching group included five dogs previously administered with oclacitinib (n = 4) or prednisolone (n = 1) who were switched to lokivetmab directly at the start of the study. The pruritus visual analog scale (PVAS) and Canine Atopic Dermatitis Extent and Severity Index (CADESI-04) values were surveyed at weeks 0, 4, and 8. Oclacitinib and lokivetmab significantly reduced the PVAS and CADESI-04 scores. Switching from oclacitinib or prednisolone to lokivetmab maintained the severity of pruritus (4 weeks: p = 0.068; 8 weeks: p = 0.068) and dermatitis (4 weeks: p = 0.144; 8 weeks: p = 0.068) at the levels measured at baseline. Thus, both oclacitinib and lokivetmab reduced CAD-associated pruritus by a similar degree. Switching to lokivetmab maintained the severity of pruritus and dermatitis at the same level as the previous treatment.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.141-144
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• 2020

Modified rush immunotherapy (IT), by combination of rush IT and conventional IT, provides a faster method to reach maintenance dose, leading to higher patient adherence when compared with conventional IT, decreasing systemic adverse reactions when compared with a standard rush IT. Ten atopic dogs of this study include fulfillment of Favrot's criteria. Offending allergens were identified by the use of IDST. During the induction period, the dogs were received a total of 10 injections. Five injections were administrated every 30 minutes in a day with gradually increasing amounts and concentrations of allergens, and the last 5 injections were administered every 3 days. The efficacy of 10-injection induced mRIT was assessed using the canine atopic dermatitis extent and severity index (CADESI). During maintenance period, reduction rate from baseline scores varied between 3.2% and 60.9% and the after 6 months of therapy for CADESI-03 score in 6 of the 10 dogs. Adverse reactions were not observed in these dogs during induction period by mRIT with 10 injections. Based on these results, our modified rush IT protocol is considered to be a useful protocol to treat canine atopic dermatitis.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.245-248
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• 2017

Modified rush ASIT protocol has been performed to identify the ideal schedule that allows the dose considered effective to be reached in the shortest possible time with the fewest adverse effects. Ten atopic dogs of this study includes fulfillment of Favrot's criteria. Offending allergens were identified by the use of IDST. During the induction period, the dogs were received a total of 15 injections. Ten injections were administrated every 30 minutes in a day with gradually increasing amounts and concentrations of allergens, and the last 5 injections were administered every 3 days. Disease severity was quantified by using the canine atopic dermatitis extent and severity index (CADESI). During induction period, reduction rate from baseline scores varied between 1% and 67% and the improvement of ${\geq}50%$ was recorded after induction period of therapy for CADESI-03 score in 6 of the 10 dogs. This study of ten dogs with atopic dermatitis provide evidence for the efficacy and safety of modified rush ASIT for clinical improvement.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.20-22
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• 2004

Bacterial infection of canine atopic dermatitis is largely caused by Staphylococcus intermedius and may be a superficial or deep pyoderma. The Purpose of this study was to identify the major proteins of S. intermedius cell surface components in humoral immune response of atopic dermatitis dog. Sera samples were obtained from dogs with atopic dermatitis and superficial pyoderma referred to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, Konkuk University. An isolate of S. intermedius from a clinical case of canine atopic dermatitis was cultured in brain heart infusion broth overnight at $37^{\circ}C$ in aerobic conditions on an orbital shaker. Following culture, Staphylococci were harvested by centrifugation, washed in PBS, and resuspended in PBS containing lysostaphin. The soluble components were separated by centrifugation and were collected. The soluble extract of S. intermedius was separated by sodium dodecylsulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The proteins were electrophoretically transferred onto nitrocellulose membrane. Western blotting for the specificity of serum IgG antistaphylococcal antibody was performed with anti-dog-IgG and sera obtained from an atopic dermatitis case and a normal dog. The molecular masses of four major proteins of S. intermedius recognized by serum obtained from an atopic dermatitis case were 18, 31, 75, and 110 kDa as determined by Western blot analysis. The present study indicates that most dogs of S. intermedius infection with atopic dermatitis could have a significant humoral immune response to bacterial proteins of the causative organism.